The Hulk’s stories in the MCU are getting more and more attention, and Marvel Studios is holding too many attractive versions of the Green Giant to surprise audiences in future projects.
Hulk is one of the most famous characters of Marvel Comics in particular and superhero comics in general. First appearing in 1962 through The Incredible Hulk #1, the Green Giant has quickly become one of the most popular characters of world pop culture.
Stepping onto the big screen, Hulk continues to play an important role as a rare character attached to the Marvel cinematic universe (MCU) from the very first days, through the role-playing screen of Edward Norton, and later. is Mark Ruffalo. However, this superhero only owns one solo project of his own, and has been released since 2008. Since then, Hulk has only appeared in cameo roles in films for for other superheroes, or only to appear in the Avengers blockbuster series.
It was not until phase 4, starting in 2021, that Marvel Studios began to really focus on developing Hulk-specific stories, with the appearance of several other versions of the Green Giant such as She-Hulk or Skaar. And it is possible that in the future projects of Multiverse Saga, the audience will also meet many other scary variations of Hulk on the big and small screen.
Devil Hulk/Immortal Hulk
In the story chapter The Incredible Hulk Vol. 3 #13, released in the 2000s, Marvel brought to life one of the most popular Hulk personalities, the Devil Hulk. This can be seen as a personification version of Bruce Banner’s anger at the cruel treatment of the world towards him, thereby forming an evil being that constantly screams to get rid of the limits of his mind. Older brother.
Devil Hulk returns in The Immortal Hulk #1 (2018). He renamed himself Immortal Hulk and became the dominant personality inside Banner’s body, and also granted him immortality. The Devil Hulk even became Venom’s host, and was seen as a terrifying version of Banner’s terrifying body transformation.
While there’s no clear indication that Devil Hulk or Immortal Hulk will appear in the MCU at the moment, Marvel Studios has recently begun to focus more on Banner’s emotional world. Appearing in projects like Avengers: Age of Ultron, She-hulk: Attorney at Law, or the upcoming Captain America: New World Order, Banner has always had to contend with how the world perceives himself. With Venom officially joining the MCU through the Spider-Man: No Way Home credits, Hulk could even become the host of this cosmic parasite like in the original comics.
Maestro
Maestro first appeared in 1992 through the story chapter The Incredible Hulk: Future Imperfect #1. This chapter takes readers to an alternate timeline in the future, where the world is devastated by nuclear war. Increased radiation levels helped Hulk become more and more powerful and gradually transformed into Maestro.
This version of the Green Giant founded Post-Apocalyptic Existence (PAX), a movement with the goal of eradicating division in humanity and establishing itself as world ruler. Maestro became Hulk’s arch-nemesis upon entering the main Marvel timeline, leading to numerous epic battles between the duo, both physically and mentally.
The multiverse is the perfect reason for Marvel Studios to bring Maestro to the big screen, because this character is inherently from a different timeline. Besides, Maestro’s first opponent in the original is Hercules – a new superhero who joined the MCU through the blockbuster Thor: Love and Thunder. In addition, Maestro also has a special connection with Sony’s Spider-Verse, when he once manipulated Miguel O’Hara (Spider-Man 2099) to build a time machine. Finally, Maestro participated in the Secret Wars event (2015) – the main inspiration for the blockbuster that closed Phase 6 of the MCU.
Gray Hulk/Joe Fix
Gray Hulk is the version of the Gray Giant that Bruce Banner almost became in the Marvel comics. Gray was the first color legendary Stan Lee used when creating Hulk, but ink problems have made this character have the characteristic blue color it is today.
Operating under the identity of Joe Fixit, Hulk became a member of a criminal organization in Las Vegas. This character often appears in dashing outfits and knows how to enjoy life. Gray Hulk is a fun and entertaining version of the Hulk, and can even transform into a Red Hulk version in some later storylines.
Joe Fixit seems like a ridiculous and impossible choice for the MCU at the moment, but in the future, it’s a very interesting script option for Bruce Banner. Banner once combined his human personality with the Hulk to create the Smart Hulk, whose physical strength is somewhat reduced, but his intellect is increased. Joe Fixit also has similar properties. And if the Avengers turn their backs and leave the team, Bruce can become Joe, join a small criminal organization and turn his back on the whole world that has always looked down on and cold to him.
Club
Debuting in the Hulk Vol. 2 #30 (2011), Kluh is seen as a smarter version of Gray Hulk, created by Xemnu, an alien creature with genius intelligence. Xemnu’s plan is to destroy Hulk and replace him with Kluh. However, during his battle with the Red Hulk, Kluh agreed to combine with the Green Giant to create the Compound Hulk. This action caused Kluh to die before he could complete Xemnu’s plan.
Kluh’s brief journey into the Marvel comics suggests the character would be particularly well-suited to a short-term villain role in a future Marvel Studios project. Although the Hulk-related copyright is still heavily tied to Universal Pictures, some recent rumors indicate that this issue will soon be resolved in the near future, allowing Marvel Studios to produce. more solo projects for Hulk. Kluh is a great villain that they can exploit, especially when some information suggests that Red Hulk will soon appear in the MCU through blockbuster Captain America: New World Order or Thunderbolts.
Guilt Hulk
Guilt Hulk first appeared in 1991, through the story chapter The Incredible Hulk Vol. 2 #377, serving as the embodiment of Bruce Banner’s violent father and reimagining the character’s traumatic childhood memories. Guilt Hulk has tormented Bruce and many other versions of Hulk from the inside, described as a strange creature with a body full of thorns and the ability to spit fire extremely scary.
Although appearing from the early days of the MCU, but the information related to Bruce Banner’s background and childhood is still a mystery. Only when the She-Hulk: Attorney at Law series aired, did the audience know a little more about this superhero’s extended family, the most notable of which was Jennifer’s mysterious “Aunt Rebecca” character. Walters. Compared to the original, this is most likely Banner’s mother, and may be the bridge leading to the appearance of the violent father Brian Banner. Besides, Banner also had to face a lot of guilt and guilt before he could truly master his abilities. And those complexes can completely stem from the Guilt Hulk tormenting in his mind.
Titan
First appearing in Hulk #6, due out in 2021, Titan is a monstrous and extremely negative version of the Hulk. He is 30 feet tall, dark-skinned, his body covered with thorns and is presented as a particularly dangerous threat, capable of tearing apart gamma-mutated creatures with the ability to launch lasers. giant from his eyes. Besides, Titan is also described as “what happens when Hulk can’t control himself”.
With the Hulk-related stories becoming more and more focused, Marvel Studios is facing too many options to continue developing this superhero.
